Thousands of eager fans line up as early as 1 a.m. to net limited-edition NYC World Cup jerseys

Article excerpt

Thousands of soccer fans camped outside a New York City store starting at 1 a.m. to snag limited-edition World Cup jerseys, with some waiting hours in the pre-dawn darkness. The exclusive merchandise dropped as part of the city's preparations for hosting matches during the 2026 World Cup tournament. Scalpers and resellers mingled with devoted supporters, turning what began as a product release into a full-scale shopping event. Store staff worked through the night to manage the crush of buyers, many of whom had traveled across the region specifically for the gear. The frenzy underscores both the commercial power of World Cup branding and New York's growing investment in the global tournament.